The Hari

This cool, contemporary hotel delivers an upscale, in-the-now image, with decor that's reminiscent of a Manhattan loft apartment. The lobby has exposed brick walls, contemporary velvet couches, and trendy modern artwork on the walls -- in fact the art collection in the lobby helps give this hotel its urban edge. This vibe continues in the hotel's lounge, which has deep blue velvet booths, huge bookcases, and atmospheric mood lighting. Overall, the look blends ultra-modern style with a mod, vintage sensibility that feels fresh. Guests are a fairly even mix of business and leisure guests, and although the hotel doesn’t seem an obvious place to stay with young children, it is actually very accommodating and offers cribs, high chairs, and children's menus.

Located in Belgravia, the hotel is in a quiet and exclusive London neighborhood within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It’s an eight-minute walk to upscale Sloane Square, where there are plenty of designer shops and a wide range of cafes and restaurants. Many of the top London attractions are also within walking distance. It’s an eight-minute walk to Harrods and Harvey Nichols -- the city's most famous department stores -- and the hotel is 15-minutes from Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park on foot. Sloane Square, Knightsbridge, and Victoria Station tube stations are all within an eight to 13-minute walk from the hotel, making it easy to reach other destinations throughout the city, including the Tate Modern (30 minutes) and the British Museum (30 minutes). Central London is just four minutes away via tube. Heathrow Airport is a 45-minute drive from the hotel, or 50 minutes away by public transit. It takes an hour to reach Gatwick Airport by car, or 45 minutes by train and tube. 

The 85 guest rooms at the Hari have chic decor that includes hardwood floors, and neutral color schemes in muted grays and taupe. The walls are adorned with large Ralph Lauren mirrors and prints of artwork by artists such as Tracey Emin, Mario Testino, and Juergen Teller. Leather headboards makes a sharp statement, as do handsome area rugs and red accent walls in some higher level bookings. Rooms are available in Superior, Deluxe, and Premium categories. All are larger than many rooms in the middle of London, and even the smallest room offers 23 square meters of space (248 square feet). Large Suites are also available, some of which can sleep four. The largest and most luxurious is the Hari Suite, which has two bathrooms, a living room with a bar area, and a marble fireplace. It also has fantastic views over the London skyline. All rooms have air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, bathrobes, tea- and coffee-making facilities, a digital music player, minibar, slippers, free Wi-Fi, and a work desk. The bathrooms are decked out in stunning gray and white Italian marble. Most have a shower/tub combo and all come with premium toiletries -- some suites have a bathtub next to the window, for an extra-relaxing touch. Turndown service is available. 

The Hari has an excellent restaurant on-site that serves fine Italian cuisine; the restaurant also serves a daily afternoon tea. Continental and full English cooked breakfasts are available too, although they're not included in the room rate and are pretty pricey. The contemporary mezzanine bar has a creative cocktail menu with many original offerings. The hotel hosts wine and cocktail hours for its guests in the evenings. Smokers will also love the cigar terrace with its retractable roof. It offers a carefully curated cigar selection and there’s a food menu including sliders, sandwiches, burgers, and diner-inspired desserts. The hotel also provides a small fitness center, a business center and conference room, 24-hour room service, and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.